PHYS 400 - Energy: Principles, Sources and Problems

(3 units) CO9, CO11, CO13

Production and use of energy and their effects on society and the environment. (Designed for students in any major.)

Prerequisite(s): General Education courses (CO1-CO3) completed; at least 3 courses from CO4-CO8 completed; Junior or Senior standing.

Grading Basis: Graded
Units of Lecture: 3
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. generate a well-supported argument, based on credible, cited evidence, and then clearly and expressively communicate it to the entire class, orally and in writing, with logically organized viewgraphs and a detailed written report that directly articulate and support a thesis.
2. apply mathematics to analyze a real-world situation, calculating important quantities, and soundly interpreting the results.
3. find appropriate primary and secondary sources, differentiating and integrating information from books, governments, the popular press, peer-reviewed journals, trade publications, and/or the web.
4. employ cogent reasoning methods to examine interdisciplinary issues, evaluating evidence and arguments, and distinguishing between sound and unsound interpretations of scientific information.
5. explain science and technology connected to energy issues and associated economic, political, and/or environmental choices, identifying the historical, economic, and/or societal impacts of those choices.
6. demonstrate an understanding of complex global issues surrounding energy acquisition and use, by placing them in a global historical context and identifying, analyzing, and articulating connections between local, national, and international events and/or perspectives.
7. analyze complex, open-ended, interdisciplinary questions through research, calculations, and literature review, applying broad knowledge and skills from current and previous coursework to both obtain answers and identify gaps in knowledge.

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